The "Model Schools Paediatric Health Initiative" aims to make health care more accessible for children by establishing medical clinics in schools. The Toronto District School Board/Model Schools for Inner Cities Program, The Toronto Foundation for Student Success, St. Michael’s Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Children, some Community Health Centres, and private donors are working together to make this pilot project happen in a few schools across the city.

Families in high priority neighbourhoods often find it difficult to overcome the obstacles they face in accessing health care for their children. The obstacles they face include cultural and linguistic barriers, or a lack of a government health card. Therefore, we see children coming to school with what we suspect are undiagnosed and untreated health issues that prevent them from learning to the best of their ability. We are compelled to address this barrier to our students’ success.

An example of this need is demonstrated clearly by this year’s results to-date of the Gift of Sight and Sound Program in Model Schools across the city. The Gift of Sight and Sound Program screens students for vision and hearing, and provides Optometrist Appointments in school locations. To date, over 11,000 children have been screened for vision and over 6,000 children have been screened for hearing. Over 1,100 pairs of glasses have been distributed. Nearly 12% of the students attending the school-based Optometry Clinics did not have valid OHIP coverage; TFSS and the TDSB Model Schools Program paid for their optometrist appointments.

From the hearing screenings, nearly 80% of the students who were referred for further assessment needed to see a physician. They were sent to their family doctor, or to the closest walk-in clinic, for the services they require. We are still tracking the outcomes of these referrals. We estimate that if 12% do not have OHIP, several children will not receive the hearing follow-up attention they require. And, we are working toward providing that follow-up through the Model Schools Paediatric Health Initiative in school locations, to ensure as many as possible receive the medical care they require.

We invite you to be a part of this exciting pilot initiative: $1,000 covers the cost of one hearing follow-up clinic day for all the students from one school referred through the Gift of Sight and Sound Program (there are 100 schools to be served) $10,000 provides funding for office and waiting room furniture per site (the pilot aims to open at least 3 sites) $20,000 provides a fund to cover the costs of children with no OHIP per site $50,000 hires an internationally trained medical graduate to co-ordinate the clinics.

To donate to the MSPHI clinics and/or to The Paul Steinhauer Clinic specifically, please go to this link and click on Donate Now to choose the fund designation of your choice.